What’s in a name? For two religions with strong Boston ties, everything.
Though representatives from two different churches stress that the Church of Christ, Scientist and the Church of Scientology are far from the same, newcomers to Boston as well as some longtime locals often mistake the large-domed building on Huntington Avenue, which belongs to the Church of Christ, Scientist, for the headquarters of a religion with a similar name.
Church of Christ, Scientist spokesman Norm Bleichmann said people commonly confuse his faith with the similar-sounding Scientology, which has gained a pop culture status that creates public misconceptions about his religion.
“Students who come in always ask me if I’ve ever met Tom Cruise,” he said, referring to one of the most recognizable Scientologists.
Though they maintain their own interpretation of the bible, Bleichmann said Christian Scientists share some of the same beliefs as other sects of Christianity.
“We believe in one all-good God,” he said. “Men and women all have relationships with God, which results in a better life, physical healing, better relationships and a better self.”
Bleichmann estimated about 1,800 Christian Science churches exist around the world.
New England native Mary Baker Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist in 1866, Bleichmann said, when she found the power of healing described in the Bible could be used in practice. Eddy published her beliefs in her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scripture, in 1875.
Boston University history professor Jon Roberts said Christian Scientists’ belief in faith healing separates them from other sects of Christianity.
“[They believe that] matter is ultimately unreal,” he said. “As a result, through prayer and communion with God, the mind can heal itself.”
“Christian Scientists teach that the mind controls the body, and if the mind is ‘right,’ the body will not be afflicted by disease,” said School of Theology dean Ray Hart.
Scientology remains a religion largely shrouded in mystery to the general public despite its connection to many celebrities — to which Hart attributed much of the church’s success. Representatives from the Scientology Center on Beacon Street declined requests for comment, referring all questions to a 1966 filmed interview with Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, a science-fiction writer.
“Much of the religion itself has a sci-fi feel,” Hart said. “It combines pseudoscience with pseudoreligion to make persons feel good about themselves and how important they are,” he said. “Hollywood stars are attracted because the religion targets them and because they are rich and give a lot of money to the sect.”
The Church of Scientology’s official website lists many celebrities as members, including Cruise, Isaac Hayes, Katie Holmes, John Travolta and Nancy Cartwright, better known as the voice of Bart on The Simpsons.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
